The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has denied claims of misconduct by its officials in the Iponri area of Surulere, following a viral Facebook post by one Chiemelie Offor detailing an alleged extortion and negligence involving a father rushing his asthmatic child to the hospital.
In a statement released by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, on Thursday, the agency said it immediately commenced an internal investigation upon being alerted to the post, which went viral on June 17, 2025.
“Upon formal notification of these allegations, LASTMA immediately initiated a comprehensive internal review,” the statement read.
According to the agency, this review included debriefing officers deployed to the Iponri-Surulere axis, examination of duty rosters and operational logs, and attempts to contact Mr. Offor for specific evidence, such as the vehicle’s registration number or visual proof, to assist with a thorough probe.
The viral Facebook post, which has garnered thousands of reactions and shares, narrated how Offor witnessed three LASTMA officials confronting a distressed father whose child was having a severe asthma attack in the backseat of a black Toyota Corolla.
According to the post, the man pleaded with the officers after briefly stepping out to buy medication, but was allegedly told to pay N70,000 or risk having his car towed and fined close to N400,000.
Offor claimed he had to intervene by rushing the boy to the hospital, where emergency treatment costing N89,000 was administered.
Upon returning, he said the car had been impounded by the agency despite the father’s pleas.
But LASTMA, in its official response, stated that no such incident was captured in its logs or duty reports.
“Physical verification confirmed no ‘Faithview Hospital’ exists within the Surulere axis, as referenced in the post,” the agency added, while also stating that Mr. Offor has not responded to its request for corroborating details.
Despite its findings, LASTMA emphasised its zero-tolerance stance on unethical conduct and encouraged Offor or any other witnesses to contact its new toll-free hotline with actionable information to aid further investigation.
“In the absence of verifiable evidence or actionable details, LASTMA finds no basis to substantiate the allegations,” the agency concluded.
The traffic agency reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and citizen-focused operations, urging Lagosians to continue engaging through its public complaint platforms.